Friday, 30 May 2014

Spent last Tuesday and Wednesday morning wandering around Godrevy looking for Bugs and whatever else I could find.Tuesday was a glorious morning with plenty of activity so the macro lens was working overtime, taking around 75 shots with some great species new to me.So back home and downloaded them on to the computer, put card back in the camera and formatted it off.I then realized I had only downloaded 23 of the images and all the best ones were erased, I can say I was really annoyed with myself, and that's what found me back again on Wednesday morning to see if I could find any of these species again.Needless to say I did not find any as the morning was much colder and things were not so active, anyway I did manage to get some new species to make up for the ones I lost which was some consolation.

BUG ( Rhopalus Subrufus ).

GREEN SHIELD BUG.

HUNTING SPIDER ( Pisaura Mirabillis ).

New Species on List.

SNIPE FLY ( Rhagio Scolopaceus ).

ROVE BEETLE (Paederus Littoralis ).

New Species on List.

SAND WASP ( Ammophila Sabulosa).

New species on list.

SAND WASP ( Ammophila Sabulosa).

New species on list.

SPOTTED CRANE FLY (Nephrotoma Appendiculata )

New species on the list.

THE CINNABAR (Tyria Jacobaeae )

GODREVY LIGHT.

This was the view from the sand dunes on Tuesday morning.

This view was taken with the 70-300 mm lens which I am finding to be very versatile and a great addition to the bag.

Friday, 23 May 2014

A trip down to St Gothian Sands NR produced the following set of images, it was really nice to see the Demoiselle's flying around.Good numbers of Butterflies including Orange Tips (These did not settle for any photo's ), also I had a Humming Bird Hawkmoth which was a real surprise, I did try a couple of images but it was to fast for the lens to focus.Still very enjoyable morning and will be going a lot more this Summer. I have put the Slug in to show I am not prejudiced against ugly species.

Thursday, 22 May 2014

So her I am on a Rainy old morning catching up on the PC with loads of images to process to try and get up to date.As you know on Saturday I went to try and see the Terek Sandpiper at Wadebridge, well sad to say it was a wasted journey because it was not seen after Friday but that's birding.A few images today from a trip to Carnon Valley on Monday, mostly doing Macro work now as the birding goes a bit quiet during the breeding season. I went to Godrevy yesterday and got a lot of images which I am sorting through, so hope to get some of these on over the next couple of day's.

BRONZE SHIELD BUG (Eysarcoris Fabricii ) 5-8mm

CARDINAL BEETLE (Pyrochroa Serraticornis ) 10-18mm.

LONGHORN BEETLE (Rhagium Mordax ) 12-22mm.

NOT SURE ON THIS ONE POSSIBLY FAMILY TACHINDAE.

TOP END OF CARNON VALLEY NR SHOWING VIADUCT WHICH CARRIES THE TRURO TO FALMOUTH BRANCH LINE.

Saturday, 17 May 2014

Just getting this post on quickly as I have to meet Brian this morning for a trip up to the North of the county where a scarce Terek Sandpiper has turned up. Its a beautiful morning and the forcast is for a hot day.So I will name the photos later on, but for now I have to get my skates on pack my gear and hopefully see this Sandpiper.

SPECKLED WOOD (ST GOTHIAN SANDS )

GREEN VEINED WHITE ( ST GOTHIAN SANDS )

SPIDER TETRAGNATHA EXTENSA (ST GOTHIAN SANDS ).

DANDELION CLOCK (ST GOTHIAN SANDS )

I THINK THIS IS WOOD AVENS (ST GOTHIAN SANDS ).

Update on the trip to Wadebridge for the Terek Sandpiper, unfortunately it seems to have departed before we got there.

Sunday, 4 May 2014

Post with a bit of a difference tonight, Brian and I went down to Kynance Cove on the Lizard this morning to look for the Great Spotted Cuckoo that's been showing on and off.Well same old story we arrived after it had been seen, and it did not show again until this afternoon at 15.00 pm, and by that time we had been back home for quite a while.Still that's Birding for you, so on to the next bit as we were getting set to leave another birding friend Lynton, who is also interested in all things natural came over to us and asked if we had ever seen a plant called Land Quillwort, which is very rare and the only place on the UK mainland it is found is a few small pockets in the Lizard area.Well Brian and I both said we had not seen it, so Lynton said come with me and took us to a field just off the coast path, and there in the shelter of a large granite boulder showed us a small patch of three of these minuscule plants.So below is a photo of it taken with the 70-300mm lens which was the only suitable bit of kit I had with me.The Lens is zoomed up to 200mm and the image is cropped to 80% which was the best I could do.So thanks Lynton and though most people may think its nothing out of the ordinary looking it was a real find.

COPYRIGHT

All Photographs are the copyright of Monty Curtis and are not for download or use without permission. If anyone would like a copy of any picture, please E:Mail me at lannerjanner@gmail.comI will forward one to you with pleasure.

Real Time visitors

CORNISH BIRDS OF PREY CENTRE

On retirement from work in 2009 I was presented with two vouchers to visit The Birds of Prey Centre at St Columb Major.
One was for an hours bird handling, and the other for an hours Bird Photography. I arranged to do this in September 2010, and arrived on Thurs 30th.
I was greeted by the proprietors Mick and the Falconer Andy, my first impressions were how clean the reception and Cafeteria area were. After a short introduction, Andy took me through an hours Bird Handling.
This has to be one of the best hours I have spent in a long time, imagine having, Harris Hawk, Gyr Falcon, American Kestrel, Perigrene x Saker Falcon, sitting on your hand, also Scops owl, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl. and Bengal Eagle Owl, also Andy's imparted knowledge shows how much he cares for his charges.
Next it was an hours Bird Photography split into two half hour sessions with a public flying display in between.
(No they did not throw people into the air).
Again nothing was to much trouble as Andy brought out all the birds that could be handled for me to Photograph at lesuire.
So overall thoughts about my visit.
A very clean complex both in the public and animal areas.
Very friendly and helpfull Staff.
Offers super value for money for both individuals and familys.
So if you are on Holiday or local to the area go along and pay them a visit, you will be pleasantly suprised.
As Arnie once said "I will be Back "Below are the shortcuts to the posts of my visit

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME

Hi and welcome to my Blog, I hope that you enjoy your visit and will return again soon My name is Monty and I live in the village of Lanner in the County of Cornwall SW UK.I have been married for 41 yrs, we have two beautiful daughters who have given us three georgous grandchildren .Lanner is situated about 40km North East of Lands End. I have lived here all my life and really love the area.Cornwall is a very diverse area from the wide open moorland of Bodmin Moor in the North and the deep wooded valley's of the Southeast, moving Southwest the rolling farmland of mid, and West Cornwall give way to the coastal moorland in the West of the county.Add to this some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world, and quaint fishing villages in small coves, and you have a magical place steeped in history, myth and legend.Main Industries these days are Fishing/Tourism andAgriculture.MAIN INTRESTS Photography,Birdwatching ,Walking, and a interest in all things natural. So I hope to share some of my Photos and thoughts with youI am also a Radio Ham for the past 20+ years, call sign is G4ZKH or as a friend in St Johns Newfoundland calls me (Zoo Keepers Helper).

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